Fisheries Subsidies: Supporting the implementation of new WTO rules

On June 1, 2022, the International Institute for Sustainable Development organized a hybrid session for World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiators on supporting the implementation of new WTO rules on fisheries subsidies.

Ahead of the WTO Twelfth Ministerial Conference, where WTO Members hope to conclude a new agreement on fisheries subsidies, the session explored some of the international cooperation opportunities available to WTO Members for the implementation of the new disciplines. In particular, delegations heard from institutions like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank about possible sources of multilateral support for improving information and data collection capabilities, establishing the required domestic mechanisms to comply with new disciplines, and strengthening fisheries management systems more broadly. IISD also presented a self-assessment tool it is developing to assist WTO Members, and in particular developing countries, in their implementation efforts.